Cargo Ship Sinks in Bay of Bengal; Rescue Ops Underway for 24 Crew
New Delhi, August 23: A Panama-flagged cargo vessel sank in the Bay of Bengal on Saturday, approximately 240 nautical miles off the coast of Paradip in Odisha, triggering a coordinated rescue operation by the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy, officials said on Sunday.
The ship, carrying iron ore from Odisha to Singapore, had 24 crew members on board. While the nationality of the crew has not been officially confirmed, a senior Indian Police Service officer told PTI that most of the crew members were Chinese nationals. The officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said authorities were not yet certain how many crew members had been rescued.
According to officials, the vessel departed from the Odisha coast on Friday, August 21, 2026. It encountered distress in rough seas and sank the following day. Immediate alerts were sent to other ships in the vicinity to assist in the search-and-rescue efforts.
Indian Coast Guard ships and aircraft, along with naval assets, have been deployed to the area. The rescue operation is being conducted in coordination with maritime authorities and nearby merchant vessels. Officials said the priority is to locate and retrieve all 24 crew members at the earliest.
The sunken vessel was carrying a consignment of iron ore, a major export commodity from Odisha, which has several ports including Paradip. The route to Singapore via the Bay of Bengal is a busy shipping lane, and maritime safety protocols are routinely monitored by Indian agencies.
This incident highlights the risks faced by seafarers and the importance of rapid response mechanisms in the region. The Indian Coast Guard has a history of conducting successful rescue missions in the Bay of Bengal, and this operation is being treated with the highest urgency.
Further details, including the name of the vessel and the condition of the crew, are awaited. Officials have assured that all possible assistance is being provided to those affected. The Indian government is also in touch with relevant international maritime agencies and the flag state, Panama, as part of standard procedures.
The cause of the sinking has not been determined, and no official statement has been issued regarding weather conditions at the time of the incident. Investigators are expected to look into the matter once the rescue phase is complete.
